Mehrnoosh Ghiam, PhD, specializes in identifying specific molecular corneal defects associated with corneal pathological conditions such as diabetes. Her work employs a variety of molecular, functional tests and ex-vivo human organ-cultured corneas to understand the role of microRNAs in both the differentiated epithelial and stem cells of normal, and diabetic corneas and their roles in driving peripheral activation of limbal stem cells in normal and diseased corneas. In addition, she investigates the major mechanisms of action of nano-sized limbal extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are taken up by neighboring cells, in stem cell maintenance and wound repair in cell cultures and in normal and diabetic human organ-cultured corneas, and the therapeutic potential of EVs for treatment of corneal injuries and diabetic abnormalities.